Earnest Parenting.com logo

Encouraging Heroes. You can be one too.

Bringing a pet into your home is a huge step that should not be taken hastily or lightly. Deciding to take care of another living thing is a big responsibility. Consider for a moment some pros and cons of getting a pet.

Disadvantages of Owning a Pet
1. A New Financial Responsibility
In addition to food and shelter, many pets require routine vaccinations and most will need to be spayed or neutered to keep the animal from repopulating and to prevent certain unwanted behavior. Like humans, as pets age they will often suffer with health problems that need medical attention, which can sometimes become very expensive, as well. Places like the Brimley-Lawrence Animal Clinic can give you good advice on how much you can expect to spend on a certain pet.

2. Cleaning Up is Hard to Do
Pets are messy. Whether inside or outside, your pets must be cleaned up after. There will be times when you may be required to clean up urine, feces or fur, if the animal sheds.

3. Some Pets Have Behavioral Problems
Often a pet may be an excellent companion when you are around but become destructive when you are away. This may cause you to have to replace furniture, carpet, or other items in or around your home.

4. A Pet can Live a Long Time
Some pets can live for fifteen years or more, which is a long time to be responsible for an animal. It can also be emotionally devastating to lose a pet after spending so many years together.

5. Other Unexpected Problems
Certain animals carry parasites that can be transferred to humans and many can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. These problems can come on unexpectedly and can be a real issue for you and other family members in the home.

Advantages of Owning a Pet
1. Great Companionship
A pet will listen to all your problems without interrupting or offering unsolicited advice. They are also nice and warm on a cold winter’s night.

2. Pets are Good for You
Medical studies have shown that owning a pet can actually lower blood pressure, ease depression and stress, fight loneliness, and increase your life expectancy.

3. Pure Joy and Unconditional love
Pets can provide you will unconditional love, hours of entertainment, and a lifetime of companionship and joy.

4. Teach Responsibility
Want you kids to learn empathy and responsibility? There is no better way than by insisting they take care of their new pet.

5. You will be Doing a Good Thing
Animal shelters across the country are over-populated and thousands of healthy animals are euthanized every day. By getting your pet from a local shelter, you may actually be saving the animal’s life.

Owning a pet requires time, money, and commitment. Weighing the pros and cons of pet ownership carefully can help to ensure that when and if you do decide to bring a pet into your home, it will be a wonderful experience for all those involved, including the pet.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents considering getting a pet. Which can be a good idea. I’m just sayin’.